22

2012

Pretty in Pink: Morganite

A relatively new gemstone, morganite was discovered in Southern California in the early twentieth century. George F. Kunz, one of the world-famous gemologists of the day, had named the stone after one of his most influential clients – financier J.P. Morgan. Morganite is classified as a type of beryl – which makes it in the same family as aquamarine and emerald. It is also often referred to as pink beryl.

“There just aren’t a lot of other things that are bright, pink, and affordable,” says gemstone cutter John Dyer of the stone. Compared to other pink stones such as pink sapphire – which is generally much more expensive – and rose quartz, which is more inexpensive but has a more opaque quality that makes it less popular, morganite is an excellent choice for a beautiful stone without the huge price tag.

Typically, larger size morganite stones are more desirable because they hold more color and greater impact – morganite has low overall saturation. This produces a soft, pretty pink color that is hard to replicate with other stones.

On a worldwide scale, Madagascar, Brazil, and Mozambique are the largest suppliers of morganite. However there are still some smaller deposits scattered around the world, including the original discovery mine in Southern California.

At Secret Sapphire we carry a broad selection of gemstone jewelry that includes some special morganite pieces. Visit us at our Yaletown location in Vancouver and see for yourself!